Bishop Ward encourages each church to reach out to the conference by completing the Church & Community Needs survey and telling how your church is persevering or needs assistance during the pandemic.
Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
As we persevere in this time of pandemic, it’s good for us to remember the mission of the Annual Conference. The Book of Discipline states it very clearly. The mission of the Annual Conference is to strengthen local churches and provide a connection for ministry. It’s our highest hope to do these two things.
Today, we have posted a survey and I ask that you take 10 or 15 minutes to complete one of these surveys for every church. Please complete it by Nov. 2. The purpose of the survey is simply to hear from you to know what resources have been helpful, to know the ways in which you are engaging in ministry, protecting the health of your congregation and of your neighbors, and to know what resources you need for the days ahead. It’s our great hope to work with you, to offer what is needed so that our churches will be strengthened and our connection will be strong.
Please remember that in our Annual Conference, we have urged every church to have a leadership team relative to pandemic response. We have not announced one way in which every church will gather and be in ministry; rather we trust to your leadership, wise decisions that will care for the health of your congregation, and the health of your neighbors. This is the Wesleyan way. From the earliest times, Methodists have cared deeply about public health, body, mind, spirit, and relationships.
Thank you for continuing to do this in this time, as we seek to be God’s faithful people. Christ, our great physician, is with us. May you continue well and strong as you serve Christ in these days.